RAHIM YAR KHAN: A wildlife team caught a poacher on Saturday and recovered a giant turtle he had captured from a pond near Sadiqabad to sell it through social media.

Released into its natural habitat, this narrow-headed softshell turtle (Chitra Indica) is an endangered specie as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and its population is declining.

Wildlife Assistant Director Muhammad Sultan Anjum told Dawn his team took a swift action and traced the poacher, identified as Tanvir, after he switched off of his cell number he posted on social media to sell the reptile. He said the giant turtle was hidden in a large muddy pond by the accused.

“After tireless overnight efforts the wildlife team successfully recovered the turtle which was released in its natural aquatic habitat, the freshwater tributaries of the Indus river,” he said, adding challan was filed against the poacher as per The Punjab Wildlife Act, 2007.

Anjum said Chitra Indica are considered the world’s largest freshwater turtles weighing up to 250 pounds and 45 inches in length. Their carapace (external shell) is covered with leathery skin instead of hard plate. They bury themselves in the sandy bottom of the rivers and feed on small insects, crabs, shrimps and sometimes on vegetation.

Beside Pakistan, they are also found in the rivers of India, Nepal and Malaysia. They face threats from poachers who sell them as some people do eat their meat and eggs as a delicacy.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2024